Direction signal



Feb. 21, 1933. J, HCHNER- 1,898,719

DIRECTION SIGNAL Filed April 8, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheetl Ii/z f nvenfop' A Homey J. EICHNER DIRECTION SIGNAL Feb. 21, 1933.

Filed April 8, '1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 3 www In WW lnvenor A torney Feb. 21, 1933. J. EicHNER DIRECTION SIGNAL Filed April 8, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Y fry 6.,

Feb. 2l, 1933. lb EJCHNER 1,898,719

DIRECTION SIGNAL Filed April 8, 1929 4 sheets-sheet 4 W74 @nl g5 Vu A 39 43 l Inventor Y Jo-SEPHEcH/vE/:

Patented F eb. 21, 1933 I PATENT OFFICE TOSEPH`E1CHNEB, 0F WEST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY l iamnc'rron srGNAI.

Application led April 8, 1929. Serial No. 353,547.

This invention appertains to improvements insignaling and more particularly to a novel direction signal for automobiles.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a signal of this character adapted to be actuated by the driver of the vehicle to indicate in which direction the same is intended to be driven.`

Another important object of the invention is to provide a direction signal wherein the actuating means may be moved clockwise or counter clockwise to operate the indicating member in one direction outwardly from its concealment.

'Another salient object of the invention is to provide a direction signal wherein the indicating member is movable from concealment while the operating means maybe actuated in opposite directions for controlling a switch in selecting lthe illuminary means on the indicating member indicative ofthe direction in which the machine is to be driven.

ther objects of the invention reside in the positiveness of operation, the ease with which the same may be actuated, and its special construction whereby its disassembly may be attained quickly.

In` the drawings Figure 1 represents a vertical transverse section of an automobile body equipped with' the novel signal structure and showing the member extended.

Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse sectional view of the indicating member.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary detail sectional view of the indicating member;

Fig. 4 is 'a fragmentary detail sectional view of a-detail of the indicatingmember.

5 represents a longitudinal sectional view through an automobile body equipped with the signal and showing the indicatin member in concealed position.

Fig. 6 represents a fragmentary vertical sectional view through the indicating memher housing and showing the indicating member in concealed position.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially on the line 7 7 of 6. ig. .8 is a fragmentary vertical sectional `sectional view showing the operative parts view of the automobile body and showing in elevation, the actuating means for the indicating member.

Fig. 9 represents a fragmentaryv vertical of the actuating means.

dicating member operating means and the circuit closing means. y

Fig. 14 represents a vertical sectional view through the controlling unit, taken on a line drawn vertically through the view in Fig. 12.

Referring to the drawings wherein like numerals designate like parts, Figure 1 shows A designating the front left post of the vehicle body while B denotes-the top of the .body with its depending edge portion C. The

usualwindshield pane is indicated by/character reference E. Secured to the front side 'f Fig. 10, is an end elevation of the actuating of the post A, is an elongated vertically dis# 9 posed housing 3 for the indicating means generally referred to by the numeral 4. The

indicating means is in the form of a semaphore which includes a hollow arm 5 having an elongated longitudinally extending lamp box 6 at its outer end. The ends of the box 6 are preferably tapered, while a partition 7 ydivides the lamp box into a pair of lamp com-- partments.

The rear side of the lamp box has open- 9 ings 8 therein in the form ofV arrows Vpointing in opposite directions, that is, one toward the right, and the other toward the left.

Translucent and colored lenses 9 are arranged g5 within the openings 8. The forward side of the lamp box is entirely open and has a cover plate 10 disposed thereover (shown in Fig. 2), and this cover plate is formed with the openings 11 in the form of arrows pointme ing in the opposite direction, and provided with colored lenses 12.

Suitable securing means 13 secure the cover plate to the lamp box 6 and are removable to pass through the hollow arm 5.

A hollow pin 16 is disposed horizontally through the post A and projects at its forward end a substantial distance beyond the front face thereof, forextension through the apertured end of the arm 5. A slot 17 communicates the interior of the pin 16 with the interior of the arm 5 by way of the opening 18 in the pivotal end of the arm 5.

The outer end of the pin 16 is threaded to receive the nut 19. A bearing plate 20 is interposed between the inner side of the arm 5 and the'po'st A, (shown in Fig. 7). As is clearly shown in Fig. 6, the pivotal4 end of the arm 5 is provided with an angularly disposed extension 21 having its free endjbifurcated to rotatably receive a--roller 22.

The controlling unit for the signal includes a housing 23 which is flanged at 24 for attachment to the inner side of the depending portion D, of the vehicle top. A rotatable shaft 25 is journaled thru one end portion of the casing 23 in the manner substantially shown in Fig. 13. The shaft 25 is also disposed through a partition 26 for separating the housing 23 into a pair of compartments.

In one compartment, the means for moving the indicating member is located and this consists of a second shaft 27 journaled 7 through the opposite ends of the housing 23 and having a bell crank 28 projecting therefrom. The shaft 25 'is also provided with a bell crank 29 and has its free end pivotally connected to a bar 30. The bar has-its opposite end pivotally connected,'as at 31, to one end of a link 32, which link has its opposite end pivotally connected to the free end of the bell crank 28.

Obviously, when the shaft 25 is moved clockwise, the connectin members will assume the upper dotted line position, shown. in Fig. 9, resulting in the clockwise movement of the shaft 27. When the shaft 25 is moved counter-clockwise, the connecting memberswill assume the lower ,dotted line position still resulting in a clockwise movement of the shaft 27.

Theothercompartment of the housing 23,

has a plate 33 of insulating material, secured therein and having a pair of spaced proa spring contact finger 35. A block 36 of suitable insulating material also protrudes from the plate 3'3 and has al1 U-shaped switch member 37 secured thereto with its leg portions 'projecting outwardly in juxtaposition with reference to the fin ers 35. The leg portions, which will be esignated by the numeral 38, of the switch member 37 are disposed at opposite sides of the shaft 25 and suitably secured to the shaft 25 is a cam 39 which .in neutral position, permits the legs 38 .operating lever has a boss 43 protruding from its inner end portion and is engageableu by a fcurved bail 44. The bail 44 is hingedly connected to the plate 45. The portion of the bail connected to the plate 45 is of polygonal arm 47 secured at 48 to the plate 45 has its free end portion adapted for tensional engagement with the polygonal portion of the bail 44 in the manner clearly shown in Fig. 11.

Obviously the bail 44 may be maintained in an elevated position as shown in Fig. 14 by the contact of the spring arm 47 with one Vflat surface of the polygonal portion 46.

However, when the lever 42 is moved to the left or to the right toassume a substantially horizontal position, such as is shown in'Fig.

8 in dotted lines, the bail 44 may be lowered to engage around the bars 43`to maintain the lever 42 in this operatedposition, and the indicating means in extended position.

The shaft 27 of the controlling unit projects through bushings 49-49 arranged in an opening 50 extending horizontally through the post A. The portion of the shaft 27 protruding beyond the post A, is provided with a cam member 51. This cam member 51 is adapted for normal contact with the roller 22,0f the semaphore.

Obviously, when the lever 42 is moved toward the right or left, the right orY left indicating means on the lamp box 6 will become illuminated, as a result of the closing of the lamp circuit by the switch means shown in Fig. 12.

shape as designated by numeral 46. A spring los Furthermore, the semaphore "will only move in one direction outwardly of the housing, 3`regardless of Whether the lever 42 is moved clockwise or counterclockwise.

While the foregoing description has been couched in definitev terms, it is to be understood that numerous changes in the specific,

shape, size and vmaterials maybe resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed hereinafter.

Having thusdescribed my invention, what I claim as new is j j 1. In a vehicle direction indieator'an inassumo dicator arm, lights on said arm, indicating means cooperating with said lights for indicating a right or left turn, means pivoting said arm for movement from a normal substantially vertical position to a substantially horizontal position, an operating lever, having a normal central position, connecting means between said lever and said signal for moving the latter to its horizontal position on movement of said operating lever to one side or the other of its central position and means cooperating with the operating mechanism and including circuits for said lamps for lighting the right signal light on movement" of the operating member to one side and the left signal light on movement of the operating member to the other side of the normal central position.

2. In a vehicle direction indicator arm, a pair of lamps, on said arm, signal'means cooperating With each lamp, means pivoting said arm for movement from a normal substantially vertical position to a substantially horizontal position, an operating lever, having a normal central position, connecting means between said lever and said arm for moving the latter to its horizontal position on movement of said operating lever to one side or the other of its central position, and means cooperating with the operating mechanism and including circuits for said lamps for lighting the one lamp on movement of the operating member to one side and the other lamp on movement of the operating member 35. to the otherside of its normal central position.

3.*In a vehicle direction indicator arm, a pair of lamps on said arm, signal means cooperating with eachl lamp, means pivoting 40 said arm for movement from a normal substantially vertical position to a. substantially horizontal position, an operating lever having a normal central position, connecting means between saidv lever and said arm for moving the latter to its horizontal position on movement of said operating lever to one side or the other of its central position, and means cooperating with the operating mechanism and including circuits for said lamps for lighting the one lamp on movement of the operating member toone side and the other l lamp on movement of the'operating member to the other side of its normal central position, means for holding the operating lever in either one of its operative positions, and means for holding the last-'mentioned means in inoperaiveposition when desired.

In testimony whereof I aiix my signature.

J OSEPH EICHNER. 

